Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “The Third Missionary Journey”. As I’ve stated several times in the past, for these weekly “thoughts” I always look for topics and concepts mentioned in the lesson that call-out for more detail. Whenever I read the lesson, I am sensitive to assumptions I may make. Or when I think “how come… what does this mean?” And then I research. Lots of research. I read all the Bible verses I can find on the topic… in their context. I look at the words themselves and how those words are used elsewhere by Bible writers. I look at the same concepts as described in other places in the Bible. I use the SDA Commentary. I use EGW’s writings. All in an attempt to understand. And it’s this I write upon. I hope it interests you as it interests me. To delve into the truth about our God.
And so this week, on Sunday’s lesson, we were introduced to “twelve brethren, who, like Apollos, had been disciples of John the Baptist, and like him had gained some knowledge of the mission of Christ” (quarterly quoting Acts of the Apostles pg. 282). And these disciples had “not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” and had experienced only “John’s baptism. Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus’. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon then and they spoke with tongues and prophesized.” (Acts 19: 2-6). So why the second baptism? What was the difference between John’s baptism and a “Christian” baptism? Isn’t baptism a “rite”, a ceremony… a symbol? Why the repeat ceremony? What did Paul convey to those twelve brethren that led them to want another baptism? Do we today baptize with only John’s baptism? Have we today fully embraced the true intent, as revealed by the life, death and resurrection of Christ? Let’s look at this.
“Baptism as a religious rite originated in pre-Christian times” (SDA Bible Dictionary pg. 118). Even the Jews practiced baptism for new converts. So John baptizing was not something foreign to the Jews of his day. The only issue they had was his authority to do so (see Mark 11:27-33; Luke 7:29-30). But pre-Christian baptism did not fully acknowledge the individual’s full relationship to God. Paul says “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance” (quoted above). Repentance is such a vital part of today’s baptism, too. But repentance is only a part. The greater significance of Christian baptism was only realized after Christ’s advent. A significance that John grasped partially. John was still somewhat “in the dark” about Christ, even near the end of his life when imprisoned (see Matthew 11:1-3). Only a few understood the self-sacrificing nature of the Godhead before Christ’s advent… and today even after His advent. Self-sacrificing love demonstrated by God Himself and our commitment to continually choose Him is the real meaning behind Baptism. This is the purpose for us all. That the rite of baptism is significant of a heart and mind that chooses to die with Christ… and to rise to newness of life, in loving faithfulness to God and true to our creation. This alone is true belief. Belief that leads to following the One believed. Says Paul, “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5). As we read this text and hear Paul speaking to us, ccan you hear Paul saying this to the 12 brethren, too?
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance… of deep sorrow and regret. So necessary. But Christian baptism stresses more than just repentance. It stresses a conversion that is so committed, so complete, so selfless that “death” is the only word to describe its completeness. This understanding of Christ and His mission is what Paul led the 12 brethren to see. To see that following Christ means not merely to repent, but to yield. And that this is the only way to be free from “the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1). So intent were these 12 brethren, that they wanted to be re-baptized… truly baptized… truly surrendered and committed. And because of their commitment, they were in a position to finally receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness.
John the Baptist sensed this in part. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). It was not until the Father and the Holy Spirit were seen as they really are (just like the Son… especially when the Son died on the cross), could anyone receive the Holy Spirit in any measure. A few in the Old Testament saw this… and then could receive that Holy Spirit of self-sacrificing love. But until the Godhead is seen in this light, until the individual yields to God as He really is (as seen in the Son), can God’s Spirit dwell in the individual in all His fullness. And God’s Spirit, in His fullness, always brings “fire”. And that “fire”, God’s Spirit, is the passionate, ardent, and pursuing character of love. Fiery Love that will not leave us dirty and sinful… not leave us far from Home in the dark and the cold. This is the fire of God’s Holy Spirit. The fire of love. A most precious gift. The gift of Himself and all that He is to you and me… His companions, His children, His spouse. May we see God as He is, submit to this God of Love, and then be conduits for that love to all around us. This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Fire. Ardent, passionate love for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters. Self-sacrificing love that mirrors the self-sacrificing love of our Father. I pray this for you and me.
With brotherly love,
Jim